Maia Bitadze: Calling for new elections in Georgia — despite a largely positive assessment by the OSCE observation mission — undermines the credibility of OSCE itself
Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, and the members of the Parliamentary Delegation to the OSCE PA, participated in the OSCE PA annual session.
As she underlined in her address, despite the challenges, Georgia maintains stability.
“It is an honor to speak on behalf of Georgia — a country with highest economic growth in Europe, even as its 20% remains under Russian occupation.
At a time when war is reshaping our region — from Ukraine to the Middle East — Georgia stands as a rare case of peace preserved under pressure. We are not free from threats, but we have chosen stability over chaos, institutions over populism, and long-term vision over short-term provocation.
Preserving peace it is vital not only for Georgia, but for the entire Black Sea region”, - she addressed the attendees.
According to her, undermining OSCE’s role — through politicized observation or selective criticism — is not just unfair to Georgia. It challenges the very principles of the Helsinki Final Act and collective security.
“Calling for new elections in Georgia — despite a largely positive assessment by the OSCE observation mission — undermines the credibility of OSCE itself. Such statements echo the rhetoric of radical opposition forces rejected by the Georgian people and risk politicizing the OSCE’s vital role. We urge you to respect OSCE mission's findings and refrain from damaging public trust in international institutions”.
As she noted, recently, there are the attempts to apply criticism to Georgia using standards that many Western countries themselves use to safeguard their sovereignty and institutions.
“What is called a crime in France or the U.S. cannot be rebranded as political persecution in Georgia. That’s not just double standards — it’s pure cynicism. It undermines international law and weakens public trust in global partnerships. Disinformation and external manipulation, interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs — including in our democratic choices — does not support peace or democracy in OSCE region. It threatens both. We ask for respect for our sovereignty, peace, and international law”, - she stated.
